He and his mother waited by the roadside a few meters away outside the gate of the subdivision for a tricycle to come by, as one of the tricycles that passed through this route went directly to the school. As they finally boarded a tricycle, Sable felt uneasy with the limited space and the noisy engine. He then turned to his mom and asked, "Mom, have you ever thought of driving your own vehicle? It would be more comfortable than riding cramped tricycles like this."
She responded, "I acknowledge that you may have the means to afford it presently, but I am also aware that you have many future aspirations to consider. It will require a significant amount of money, and besides, I have been managing just fine without it for a long time.
"I just feel that it's more convenient and safer than riding public transportation."
His mom smiled at him and patted his hand. "I appreciate your concern, son, but there are still a lot of things that we have to focus on more for now."
He nodded, knowing that his mom was just being practical, but he couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. He promised himself that he would work harder and earn more money so that he could provide his mom with the things she deserved.
He and his mom arrived at the school's entrance gate. As they walked through the school grounds, He couldn't help but feel a sense of nostalgia. It had been almost two decades since he last stepped foot on the campus. He never imagined that he would be happy to see this place again.
The buildings looked the same as they did when he was still a student (of course it's the same silly). The trees are still as abundant as I remember. He even recognized some of his former teachers walking around.
Sable couldn't help but feel a wave of nostalgia as he walked through the familiar sidewalks of his old high school. The circular tables and chairs outside the rooms the school cafeteria where he used to hang out with his classmates is as he remembered, albeit looking a bit dusty. The little blue homes scattered around the school grounds, where they used to eat their packed lunches, were also present. As he walked further, he could see the open-air basketball court where they used to play after school, currently empty and quiet.
Despite the absence of students, he could still feel the air of youthful energy and excitement that he used to experience during his high school days here. He closed his eyes and could almost hear the chatter of students, the laughter and playful banter that used to fill the air.
As he continued to walk, long-forgotten memories flooded his mind, making him smile and even chuckle at some point. His mother even looked at him weirdly and asked him whats the matter.? He answered "I just remembered some things" It was almost surreal to him that he was walking the same grounds that he did almost two decades ago, but at the same time, it felt so familiar and comforting. He knew that he had never truly forgotten this place, and the memories he made here in his last life would always be a part of him.
As they approached the Registrar's Office, Sable couldn't help but smile at the memories that flooded his mind. He remembered his first day of school here and how he messed it up so badly and then he remembered his first crush, oh just thinking about how he would change it gives him so much excitement.
He and his mom finally reached the registrar's office,
Good afternoon, ma'am. How can I assist you today?
Good afternoon. I am here to transfer my son to this school. I have already prepared all the necessary documents.
Alright, let me check the documents. (She looks through the documents) after a while "Everything seems to be in order. You just need to fill up this form for the transfer said the registrar employee."
Thank you. I'll fill this up right away. Is there anything else I need to do? asked my mom
"After filling up the form, you can proceed to enrollment." You will be given a schedule for your son's classes and other important information.
Alright, thank you very much for your help.
You're welcome, ma'am. If you have any other questions or concerns, feel free to ask me.
He and his mother entered the enrollment area, where they were greeted by a friendly staff member who assisted them with the enrollment process. Sable filled out a few forms and provided the necessary documents for his enrollment, while his mother paid the tuition fees in cash at the cashier.
After completing the enrollment process, they were informed that the school would officially start on June 4th and that there would be an orientation a few days before that. His mother made sure to jot down the important dates while Sable couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and nervousness for his new high school journey again.
As they walked out of the school, he noticed a slightly dilapidated two-storey building just across the street. The building was used as a rental and bed spacer for students' right now. I remember that in the past timeline, that building was eventually bought by a band who turned the second floor into a music studio where students can rent it hourly, and the ground floor into an internet cafe. It was a hit,
He stopped in front of the slightly dilapidated two-storey building and looked up at it with a pensive expression. His mind raced with ideas of what he could do with the property. "Ma, what do you think about buying this building?" he asked, turning to his mother.
His mother looked at the building and then back at Sable. "It looks like it would need a lot of repairs, what would you even do with that?" she asked.
"I was thinking of fixing it up and maybe turning it into an internet cafe and since it's near the school I am sure that it will be a hit," Sable replied, excitement creeping into his voice."
Agreeing with him, Sable's mother suggested, "You're not just planning to build an internet cafe, are you? It's such a large property. Why don't you consider buying only half of it?" concern was evident on her face.
"In my opinion, we should consider purchasing the entire property. Additionally, we could divide the ground floor to establish a laundry business or something similar. As far as I know, this business is always in demand and has a low probability of going under, as everyone wears clothes, and not everyone enjoys doing laundry."
"I am considering constructing a third floor to serve as my private dormitory while I am in school, eliminating the need for a daily commute. And for the second floor, I am thinking of transforming it into a restaurant so that I won't have to cook my own meals and have access to complimentary food as the owner," he said with a smirk and a chuckle at his brilliant idea to avoid cooking meals.
His mother looked at him with a mix of pride and worry. "You're growing up too fast," she said, shaking her head. "I must admit, the idea of having free meals for two years of your stay here is tempting. I can't deny that. If you believe it's a worthwhile investment then go for it, I am okay with most of your decisions, but the one thing I cannot agree with is your sudden desire for independence and living on your own.
Sable understood his mom's concerns and replied, "Mom, I understand where you're coming from, but I think it's time for me to learn to be independent. Plus, having my own place near the school would give me more time to focus on my studies and other responsibilities. I promise to still visit you and keep in touch every day."
His mom thought about it for a moment and replied, "I see your point, but it's going to be difficult for me to adjust. Can you promise me that you'll be safe and take good care of yourself? your my only son don't make your old mama worry okay?"
He smiled and said, "Of course, Mom. I'll always be careful and responsible. And don't worry, I'll always be just a phone call away if you need anything."
He and his mother walked towards the building and asked a person if they could inquire about the property. The person then informed them that the owner was just upstairs and they could talk to him directly.
Sable and his mother made their way up the stairs and knocked on the door. A man in his late 60s opened the door and greeted them. He and his mother introduced themselves to the owner and expressed their interest in the property. He welcomed them warmly and invited them inside for a glass of water and introduced himself as Old Man Ben.
As they sat around a small table in the living room, the Old Man Ben shared his story with them. "I've been living here for over 30 years with my wife managing the property and helping out the occasional student renters. She passed away a few months ago, and now I'm planning to move to the US to be with my daughter, I was already preparing, as she had already filed a petition for me. I was just about to advertise the property when you two showed up."
He expressed his condolences and asked about the condition of the property. According to the owner, he has kept the property in good condition over the years, but it may appear run-down because he stopped maintaining it after he made the decision to sell. He also mentioned that the property had two separate entrances, one for the owner's unit on the second floor and another for the ground floor units that were rented out to students.
Sable then asked about the possibility of adding a third floor to the property. The owner thought for a moment and said, "It's definitely possible. The foundation is strong enough to support it. But you would have to get the necessary permits and have it inspected by an engineer."
Sable nodded and thanked the owner for the information. He then asked about the asking price of the property. Old Man Ben quoted 4 million pesos but he and his mother felt that it was a bit steep.
So he said "How about 3.5 million pesos I will pay it in cash tomorrow"
Old Man Ben replied "3.8 million cash"
"3.6 million old man let's finalize it"
Old Man Ben hesitated for a bit and said "You know what, let's meet halfway 3.7 million deal?"
"Fine! you got a deal Old Man" Sable said, After the negotiation, they were able to agree on a 3.7 million price.
As Sable left the building, he couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement. He had just sealed the deal for the property at a price that he knew would only keep going up in the future. He smiled to himself as he walked down the street, envisioning the possibilities of what he could do with his newly acquired property. He knew that it would take some work to turn it into his plan, but he was up for the challenge. As he walked, he couldn't help but feel grateful for the opportunity that had presented itself to him.
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